The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-04-16
MY. SEN0RI'TA.

making the trip alone did not suit me-
The driver Of the diligencia, ono Gil
Perez, had yillanous face, face auyses.
tive Of treason, Htratagems, and spoils, and
every time 1t was turned In my direction
insiinctiyely felt under the seat to see h
my valise was still there. l.00.'-'
My valise was fully worthy OF this at.
tention on my part. It contained $40 OOO
In gold, the result OF my collecting trip to
Toboso, undertaken in the interest Of a
wealthy American client at the Capital.
The interior Of the vehicle was capable
Of accommodating ak or eight persons,
and 1longed for q fellow.passenger.
We had not left the outskirts of the
town fairly behind us, when the lumber.
ing old coach WAS brought to sudden
atandstiii, the four horses throwing thom.
selves into line across the road, with tho
evident intention Of taking to the woods.
"Chrrajo" howled Gil Perez from his
lofty perch rs he gave his whip vicious
crack. Thou devil OF q Sancho, l will cut
out thy heart and liver; and as for thee.
Perdita, will iiay thee alive!" Nas-
laughed. When the driver talked In
this fashion to bis beasts he was III good
humor. Ills lusty oaths and frigGttul
threats counted for nothing. =.
Tho cause Of our halt was aoon explain
ed. Two young women had aignalod Gil
Perez 70 stop. Ole OF them was imme-
diately bundled into the vehicle bv her
companion and the driver. 1t seemed to
mo that come bird Of the tropcs, with an
overpowering glitter Of gorgeous plumage,
| had 6Hooped down upon me, and nR;llr-
ally looked out OF the window until
| could think OF something to Soy. ,a
1t struck Mo that the now passenger a
maid, Tor such young woman outside sp-
peared to be, vas very picturesque affair.
She had q rich complexion, with fius
black eyes, and her hair, arranged in a
long, glossy plat, hung down nearly to
her heels. Her head, neck and shoulders
were perfectly bare, and her ooly garments
were loose-htting white cotton iunic and
pettlcoat OF read and blue reachir. TO
her knees. She gave ME saucy look,
aid kissed her hand to her mistress keen
ing up lively chatter all the time.
After the driver had slowed away the
light baggage Of the senorita, as he called
her, and parting adios had been ex-
changed between the lady and the airy
looking young woman who was to be left
behinc, fhs d,'',sse's started, and wes
soon T'nA,na on rs way.
Unotf The circumstances it IVES impoa-
aible for me to 60 On looking looking at
the landscape forever. 1t was clearly my
duty to make myself agreeable to the
senorita.
The task did not appear at all unpleas-
ant to mo after l had furtively surveyed
the situation out Of the tail OF my eye. II
an excuse for opening conversation had
been lacking, Gil Perez was polite enough
to supply it.
1.-THE senor will DO delighted to know"
be said, With flourish, that tho senorila
will honor US with her company ell the
wsy to the city,"
n managed in rather crippled Spanish
to express my almost delirious pleasure,
and wound up by eaying that had been
in Il state OF utter gloom and despair over
my solitary journey.
10 my surprise the senorits replied in
excellent English, and said that she was
overjoyed to have m American for fell.
low-trsveler.
~ like the Americana" che said, "they
are, wha. do you call it? Nice | thisk,
10 the word. Yes, they are SO nice.'
"Talks like one OF our boarIing.school
missss," said to myself, and then made
aome suitable reply.
There was no question about it. The
senorita wGs pretty. Tall IS a daushte,
Of the gods, with midnight hair and eyes,
harmon ziny well with her brunette com
ple1ion, she was what called, Impressed
as was by her costume, a blazing beauty.
She waa net dressed for travelling, but
peIhaps che considered ride OF forty
miles mere t,itie. She was attired utter
tho fashion OF the seroritas | had seen
promenadlng in the parks at the Capital.
Her hair was siudded with flashing gems,
and her dress TR6 OF some almost diaphs-
nous material inst leemea to siuam and
simmer with the prismGtic hueA CT the
rainbow. She wore the inevitable black
lace MANILA which ladies' are seldom
seen without in Spanish.American cuun.
tries, but if it wGg inteaded to e1eotuaily
conceal her anowy shoulders it was a
llRmentable failure rs dieeuise; ag much
90 as tho V.saapea boIice which WAS so
literally cut that l found myself softly
quoting:
On her white breast sparkling cross She wore,
Which Jews might Kits and iniidcts adore.
My fair companion was not long in tell
ing me thRt Bhe wRs returning from brief
Wait to aick relative. Beyond that abe
had little to reveal abGut hereelt. But
she did not ec,uple to aok auy number OF
questions. Did | lie Mexico? Was |
travelling Tor business or rleasure? What
did think OF tho a!ezicaa l9dies2
! 0naHerGd oil thpsc questions, GB
lazily and complacent!y watched the llUt.
teriug fan with which this beautiful crca.
turo appeared to do ut least half OF her
conversation. ia fact, | grew unnccea-
sarily communicative. mentioned nv
visit to Toboao, and told Of my auccees ii
collecting AL Old debt for which | was to
receive good fee.
"ADd the senior is not afraid OF rob.
bers7 limited the senorita.
"Well, certainly not in the daytime"
replied. IL have q good seven.shooter,
and with the Grlvor to help me ought 10
be able to hold my own"
"Iou Americana arc 10 brave" muir.
INJURED the Htn0!ita; but the tfisand8
are very bold. have acen them i'll the
euburhB Of the Capital"
"senoriIa," 1 anuwereh, "!ook at this
little toy, and tell me il highwayman
would care to face il"
| handed her my pistol, weapon oil tho
latest improved pa!tetn. she e."minetl
IL with intereat.
"Let me lay it on tho aeat hore, and
conceal it under my manlilla," she sug-
gestcd. al We need it can hand IL TO
You quicker ,haH ;Qr could draw it from
your pocket"
As it WINS really 4 good idea, consented
readily.
We did not suiIur for topics OF CONVEX
iaAtion; but this girl, for sho WIS nothing
more thau u girl, made Buch pretty
piCsnro In her alrango COSTUME that !
found sufficient entertainment in looking
at her. ! was ius. beginning 10 admit d
myacli tia. ! wgs padly in love with her,
when tho dil!gencia gave lurch, and
came 70 y !n!i Stor IL tho dark and
| tb,.L Ia, alI ,r., III xnn,,h ,rhi,l, zoe.